Minister insists private registered provides will continue to play key role in delivery of social homes

Speaking in Liverpool to the Housing Community Summit, run by the National Housing Federation and the Chartered Institute of Housing, Mr Pennycook said the Government had made progress on new homes but “much more can and will be done in the years ahead to ensure councils and housing associations, alone and, I hope, in deepening partnership, can flourish and play their full part in the decade of social and affordable housing renewal that this government remains determined to deliver”.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has emphasised the role of local authorities in housebuilding since coming to office, saying last month: “Councils built this country out of a housing crisis once before. Backed properly, and trusted to get on with it, they will do it again.”

Mr Pennycook said: “I can well imagine that having registered the renewed emphasis that the government is placing on council housebuilding, many housing associations and other providers may be questioning what it means for them.

“Let me reassure anyone who is in any doubt that private registered providers will continue to play a key role in the delivery of social and affordable homes.

“We value immensely all that you do to help meet housing need and we are relying on you to continue to progress ambitious development plans, not only delivering grant funded homes but also maximising homes built through Section 106…”

He said any housing association or other provider concerned about their future when councils begin again to build at scale should understand “the revival of council housebuilding that this government is working to deliver should complement not threaten the contribution you make”.

The minister said the Government wanted to encourage greater partnership working between councils and housing associations whether through forming joint ventures, aligning development plans, delivering new council homes through partnership models, or working more closely on allocations.

Mark Smulian